Comparing Brass

[Elite Muzzleloader]

I'm interested in shooting in my local 600 Marksman match and setting up to shoot my stock Remington 700 243 SPS Varmint. I've put a Boyd's Pro Varmint Stock on it and bedded and pillar bedded it. I have a Nikon Prostaff 5 3.5-14x40 XR with a Timney trigger on the rifle.

I tell you what I have so you know I'm not starting with high dollar stuff and just wanting to get started with what I have. With that said...

I'm thinking of getting better brass than the once fired Winchester brass I already have. I can get Hornady brass locally and thought that would be a better place to start for around $.70 a piece. Would lupua brass be a lot better than Hornady brass? Will it make that much difference in my stock rifle?

 

[243winxb]

Have not used lapua brass.

Using Win of the same lot, sorted into batches by 3/10 gr weight, after case prep.
FL size, trim, uniform the flash hole.

Buy Redding Type S FL sizing bushing die.

For top accuracy a bushing die is a must so you don't over work the brass as with standard dies. The complete operation of full length sizing the case and the neck is done in one simple operation. The body of the brass is supported while the floating bushing sizes the neck. YOu have the choice of how much neck to size, all or part. Works well with or without the expander button. You can still decap the primer. Bushing are extra.

Accuracy is good with 68gr or 90 gr match Berger bullets IMR 4350 and/or IMr 4831

 

[gohring3006]

I agree with the Bushing die part.
You will not gain anything by going with Hornady brass. If anything, you will get less brass life. Since you have once fired Win brass that's been fire formed to your chamber, you are already ahead of the game. Lapua brass is very nice durable brass, but honestly if you have weight sorted, and deburred flash holes with your current lot of brass, I don't see you gaining accuracy. You could probably push the brass a little harder and get to the next node. That's a decision you'll have to make. I guess you could probably get more uniform neck thickness with Lapua, but I haven't noticed this with 338 Lapua brass.

I'm might get flamed for this, but another option in the die decision is, a Lee ultimate die set. It has a collet die that will load very strait ammo, the other dies in the set are just as good as any other standard die set.

 

[Dosh]

Elite, for shooting matches you would be ahead with the Lapua brass. It costs more than Hornady which I've had loose primer pockets after second firing (Lapua $.94 each here locally). I'm sure the Lapua brass will last much longer and is more consistent. Good luck with your match shooting.

 

[Elite Muzzleloader]

Thanks a lot for the information guys. Got to shoot this morning and learned a lot from this morning outing.

Going to settle in this load

100 yards
95 Berger's Target VLD
Win Primers
41.5g IMR 4350
2.802" COAL

3 shots wish I would have had 5

 

[Dosh]

Very nice, which brass?

 

[Elite Muzzleloader]

Winchester Brass

 

[bigedp51]

.243 Win For Tactical Comps
We asked GA Precision's George Gardner why he chose .243 Winchester for his Tactical Comp Gun. He replied, "Why would I run anything else? Think about it. I'm sending a .585 BC 115 at 3150 fps–that'll shoot inside the 6XC and .260 Rem with ease. I'm pretty sure I have found the Holy Grail of Comp Rifles. There are no brass issues like you can get forming .260 brass. I don't have to worry about doughnuts, reaming necks–none of that. And the choice in brass is great too–run Lapua if you want max reloads and great accuracy. Run Winchester if you're on a budget, and so you won't cry if you lose some cases in a match. I can get 10-round mags, and feeding is 100% reliable, since the case is identical to a .308 except for the neck. Accuracy-wise, I don't think I'm giving up anything to the .260 Rem or the 6XC." We then asked George if he'd considered using a .243 AI instead: "Yeah, the cases look cool with that 40° shoulder, but I think the standard .243 feeds a little better. And I don't think I really need the extra performance of an improved case. Run the ballistics for my load–115 moly DTAC at 3150 fps. You've got less windage than a 2950 fps 6.5-284, with cheaper brass, cheaper dies, cheaper bullets, and less recoil."


243 Win Cartridge Guide within AccurateShooter.com

NOTE, the last two bags of Winchester brass I bought the quality left a little to be desired. I had to throw out six cases that were not formed properly. The case shoulders were wrinkled with folds and one neck was split.

 

[Elite Muzzleloader]

Measured the group when I got home. Hoping for repeat accuracy when I try it again.